Dayo Israel clears up confusion about APC youth campaign leadership

Confusion has surrounded the leadership of the All Progressives Congress’ Youth Mobilisation Directorate for the 2027 presidential campaign. This started after APC National Youth Leader, Dayo Israel, mentioned that he was promoted to director at a campaign council meeting, but this was later reversed.

This situation has caused disagreements among party supporters on X. Some supporters insist that the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, is still the director. Meanwhile, Israel claims that his promotion was announced by the campaign leadership before a decision later restored the previous arrangement.

On Monday, the secretary of the Presidential Campaign Council and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, released a statement about changes in the council’s leadership structure for the upcoming elections.

The statement announced that Olawande was made director of the Youth Mobilisation Directorate, with Israel being named deputy director. Farouk Aliyu was appointed as director of the Directorate of Stage Organisation and Management, with Adejare Bello as co-director.

Mary Aille Idele was named director of the Women Mobilisation Directorate. The former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu, will serve as deputy director, with Imaan Suleman as secretary. Uzodimma stated that these appointments aimed to strengthen the council’s structure and improve how it operates.

But Israel took to X to dispute claims that his promotion was fake news. He said the announcement was made at the council’s first meeting on October 20 before a later communication reversed it.

On Wednesday, in a statement titled ‘Setting the Record Straight on the APC PCC Youth Directorate,’ Israel said the list published on October 13 initially named Olawande as director and him as deputy director. He explained that this changed during the council’s meeting on October 20.

“Subsequently, at the inaugural meeting of the Council yesterday 20th, my elevation to Director Youth Mobilisation was announced at the end of the meeting. Members of the National Working Committee acknowledged that announcement and congratulated me, with one expressly confirming that it had been formally announced at the meeting,” he wrote.

Israel mentioned that the announcement led to congratulatory messages from party members and supporters. He also started preparing to organise the directorate’s activities.

“I did not manufacture an announcement. Those who congratulated me had a basis for doing so,” he said. He called for a review of zonal plans and proposals, asking zonal coordinators to include their deputies and secretaries. He also requested a virtual meeting ahead of a deadline for submitting an action plan.

“Leadership must be demonstrated through action, and I was ready to act,” he said. Israel noted that the campaign council’s secretary, Mrs Rinsola Abiola, acknowledged that an announcement had been made before it was reversed.

According to him, Abiola referred to “the announcement made earlier today at the PCC leadership meeting” and explained that a subsequent statement “effectively nullifies” it, meaning the directorate reverted to the previous arrangement.

Israel argued that the later publication of the original appointments does not mean the earlier announcement of his promotion did not happen. “This raises a straightforward question: what precisely was adjusted in the Youth Mobilisation Directorate, when both the Director and Deputy Director already held those same positions in the list published on 13 October?” he asked.

He added, “A subsequent reversal cannot make an earlier announcement imaginary. Nor can it turn the goodwill of colleagues and supporters into an act of dishonesty.” Israel called for clearer communication about decisions, saying, “Institutional credibility is strengthened when decisions and subsequent changes are communicated with clarity.”

He thanked those who congratulated him and urged party supporters to avoid personal attacks, insisting that his commitment to service has not changed. The dispute has led to different reactions among APC supporters on X. Some are circulating messages claiming Israel’s promotion was fake news, insisting that Olawande remains the director.

A user named Mr Fabulous, #olaniranfaith, wrote that the campaign structure needs coordination and clarity, insisting Olawande is the director and Israel is the deputy director. “Hon. Ayo Olawande remains Director of Youth Mobilisation, and Dr. Dayo Israel is Deputy Director. The flier claiming otherwise is fake news,” the user wrote, using the hashtag #AyoOlawandeNOTDayoIsrael.

Another user, SeyVibezS, #mslaggert, commented, “It was allegedly before, but now it is finally confirmed that Mr Ayo Olawande is the Director of Youth Mobilisation and NOT Dayo Israel. A lot will unfold in the coming days. Wow.”

Nurse Temmii, #tinaneedyours, stated that the leadership arrangement has not changed. “For the avoidance of doubt, Hon. Ayo Olawande remains the Director of Youth Mobilisation for PBAT/APC 2027, and Dr. Dayo Israel remains Deputy Director. The circulating flier suggesting otherwise is fake news. The core leadership arrangement remains,” the user wrote.

BIG DAWG, #thoy007, also insisted that Olawande is still the director, saying, “the PBAT/APC 2027 Youth Mobilisation Directorate’s core leadership remains intact.” The user added that any flier suggesting a different arrangement is fake news.

The disagreement has raised questions about the roles of a party official and a serving minister within the campaign structure. In a reply to Israel on Wednesday, an X user named 360 senpai (MNIM) Esq, #iAmThree_siXty, asked, “How can you be a director over the Honourable Minister of Youth?”

Israel responded, saying party hierarchy and government appointments are not the same. “Is the National Women Leader not a Director over the Minister of Women Affairs who is the committee secretary in the women directorate? Are you actually aware that in political ranking a National Working Committee Member is Senior to a Minister or Equivalent?” he wrote.

He added that members of the party’s National Working Committee are senior to political appointees in the party structure and handle issuing tickets to elected nominees. This explanation, however, did not settle the debate among supporters.

Olugbenga, #gk_nelly, criticized Israel’s response, claiming he focused too much on titles and power. “You like to major on minor issues most times. You are actually more focused on power and title than the job. This your own kind of youth leader get as e be,” the user wrote.

Another user, Asiwaju, #mr_asiwaju, questioned Israel’s claim about National Working Committee members being senior to ministers. “Dayo Israel said he is above the Minister of Youth in ranking because he’s NWC member of the APC. Are the NWC members of other political parties also above the minister of youth?” the user asked, while also challenging Israel’s past political activities in support of the ministerial position.

Meanwhile, AWP Network, #AfricWomenPower, said the disagreement shows divisions among the party’s youth supporters. “Looks to me that APC has two youth factions competing with each other. There’s the Dayo Israel side and the youth minister side. There’s total unlooking happening from one side to the other,” the user wrote.

Another user, Avichi. Armageddon, #AvichiHolmes, said this situation looks like a demotion for Israel, saying, “So Dayo Israel has been demoted Kata kata in the APC.”

Israel also shared a lengthy reflection on how political power is temporary in a separate post on X, though he did not link it to the appointment dispute. In a post titled ‘The Transient of Public Power: A Reminder for Those Who Hold the Keys Today’, he said political influence and public office are not permanent. “Public office is temporary stewardship, not private dominion,” he wrote, warning against using power to block others or treating authority as everlasting.

This exchange has highlighted disagreements among party supporters over the youth leadership in the campaign council, the timing of announcements, and the meaning of the later reversal. While the council’s published list names Olawande as director and Israel as deputy director, Israel's account claims a separate announcement of his promotion was made at the October 20 meeting before the previous arrangement was restored.